बुरा दिन

You use it exactly like the English version. Place the adjective बुरा before the noun दिन. Since दिन is a masculine noun, the adjective stays as बुरा. If you want to say "bad days" (plural), it becomes बुरे दिन. You will usually use it with the verb "to be" (होना).

Use this when you need a little sympathy. It is great for texting a friend after a tough exam. You can use it at home when you are tired. It is a very safe, common expression. It helps you express frustration without being too dramatic or specific.

Do not use this for major life tragedies. If someone loses a loved one, बुरा दिन sounds too light. It is for the "annoying" stuff, not the "devastating" stuff. Also, do not use it to describe a person's character. To call someone a bad person, you would say बुरा इंसान.

In India, people often talk about "good times" and "bad times" as cycles. If you have a बुरा दिन, a friend might blame your stars. They might say your क़िस्मत (luck) is just having a nap. It is common to share these frustrations over a cup of chai. Sharing the burden makes the day feel a bit better.

You will often hear ख़राब दिन (kharāb din) as well. While बुरा means bad, ख़राब can also mean spoiled or broken. Both are used interchangeably in most casual conversations. If you are feeling extra dramatic, you might say आज मेरा दिन ही नहीं है (Today is just not my day).